2013 Infiniti IPL G Convertible

Exterior and Interior

The 2013 IPL G Convertible offers a fresh and seductively-styled exterior that features a dramatic front bumper/fascia design that comes with integrated fog lights and black finishers, sculpted side sills and round chrome exhaust tips. For the colors, Infiniti will be offering two exterior paint finishes for the IPL G Convertible - Moonlight White and Malbec Black - and fitted with a new set of 19" IPL split 7-spoke graphite-finish wheels wrapped in low-profile W-rated Bridgestone Potenza RE050A performance tires.

For the interior, Infiniti dressed up the convertible with two unique treatments - Stone and an IPL-exclusive Monaco Red - while also including red-stitched leather-appointed Climate-controlled front sport seats with embroidered IPL logos, a manual thigh extension and driver’s power torso and thigh support adjustment. Other features of the IPL G Convertible include a red-stitched steering wheel, a Silk Obi aluminum trim, IPL embroidered front floor mats, and aluminum trimmed pedals and footrest.

Performance

Under the hood of the IPL G Convertible lies a powerful and advanced 3.7-liter VQ37VHR V6 engine that produces an impressive output of 343 horsepower an 273 lb/ft of torque, an increase of 18 horsepower over the non-IPL models and an uptick of six lb/ft of torque. The engine is mated to an electronically controlled 7-speed automatic transmission with Downshift Rev Matching and quick-shift Drive Sport (DS) mode with magnesium paddle shifters and Adaptive Shift Control (ASC).

The car also has an engine management system that has been recalibrated through an air-fuel mixture and ignition timing optimization, raising the maximum horsepower of the car to a very impressive point of 7,400 rpm. The IPL-tuned high-flow exhaust is a full dual exhaust design with independent left and right large diameter pipes while the muffler’s inner structure and materials have been maximized to reduce pressure and provide an appropriate performance exhaust note.

Safety

Despite looking the part of a sexy sports car, the IPL G Convertible also has some pretty upstanding safety features. An Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor comes as a standard addition. The vehicle also door-mounted curtain side-impact supplemental air bags, front-seat mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and front seat Active Head Restraints. Meanwhile, the rear seat comes with fixed head rests with rear Pop-up Roll Bars.

Technology

Technological amenities are also part of the entire package, highlighted by a 13-speaker Bose Open Air Sound System that has been optimized for both top positions. The car also has an AudioPilot 2.0 noise compensation technology and Personal front seat headrest speakers, an Adaptive Dual Zone Climate Control that automatically adjusts fan speed and air volume based on top position, an Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) with a Plasma-cluster air purifier, and Infiniti’s own Navigation System with voice recognition and available XM NavTraffic Real-Time Traffic Information, NavWeather with Real-Time Weather and 3-day forecast, Streaming Audio via Bluetooth and Zagat Survey Restaurant Guide and touch screen, and Bluetooth® Hands-free Phone System.

Pricing

The Infiniti IPL G Convertible went on sale in June 2012 at Infiniti retailers nationwide, following in the lead of the IPL G Coupe as the second car to be released by Infiniti’s Performance Line. The model will be priced from $60,600, while its coupe brother has a starting price of $50,500.

Competition

Nissan and Toyota have had a long rivalry and that has continued on with their respective sister companies, Infiniti and Lexus. In the case of the Infiniti IPL G Convertible, one car that can pose some stiff competition to the car is the Lexus IS.

Performance figures are pretty similar to both cars with the IPL G Convertible’s 3.7-liter V6 engine with 343 horsepower holding an edge over the IS 350C’s 3.5-liter V6 engine with 306 horsepower.

Aesthetic amenities also favor the IPL G Convertible, although when you look at both models and take out their respective badges, you’d have a hard time trying to point which one is the IS 350C and which one is the IPL G Convertible.

That only speaks to the similarities between the two, making the choice between the two models a matter of preference more than anything else.